Wellington, New Zealand, 20 January 2011—A new OECD survey of 27 Asian and Pacific countries shows Australians are the heaviest drinkers of alcohol in the region followed by New Zealand where consumption is declining.

The OECD says adults aged 15 years and over in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the Republic of Korea consumed over eight litres of alcohol per capita in 2005, the latest year for complete figures. It says alcohol consumption per capita is declining. 

While New Zealand in 2005 consumed 9.3 litres of alcohol per capita, (Australia topped with 9.9 litres), between 1980 and 2005 New Zealand's per capita alcohol consumption declined 21 percent. 

The survey provides 32 indicators of overall health in the Asia-Pacific region. 

It shows 68 percent of New Zealand and Australian males are rated as the most overweight, making them the heaviest of the survey. Among women, 55 percent of Australians are overweight, rising to 58 percent for Kiwis.  Fijian women topped the list, with 65 percent overweight. 

The survey did not include Nauru and Tonga however, internationally recognised as the most obese people in the world. 

New Zealanders put away 3151 kcal per day and Australians 3186, while in North Korea they were getting just 2146.  In New Zealand just two percent of females and one percent of males are underweight. In India its 36 percent female, 34 percent male. 

Japan was top in life expectancy with a combined male and female age of 82.7 at 2008 against New Zealand's 80.4. 

New Zealand has one of the lowest infant mortality rates of the countries, and has experienced a 62 percent drop in infant deaths between 1980 and 2008. 

The country had among the lowest rates for adults smoking daily: 22 percent of men, 20 percent of women.

Fiji was the lowest with 18 percent and two percent. 

In China 57 percent of men were smokers, but only three percent of women. 

New Zealand has 2.46 doctors per 1000 people, while Papua New Guinea had just 0.05. 

New Zealand heads the Asia Pacific region in spending on health - nine percent of gross domestic product—against Australia's 8.8 percent—PNS (ENDS)